bennor



(NdModeL) v 13 SheetsSheet 1. J. BBNNOR.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MAGHINE.

' No; 440,889 lat nt'ed Nov. 111 1890.

WITNESSES:

L/ K/"w ATTORNEY.

13 Sheets Sheet N0 Model.

J. BENNOR.

T-KNITTING MACHINE.

STRAIGH No. 440,389. Patented Nov. 11, 1890,

WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 13 SheetsShet 3.

J. B NNOR. 4 STRAIGHT KNITTING-MACHINE. No. 440,389. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

\YR *QNNH I I Jmmml mmnmmm (No Model.) 13 sheets sheet 5.

J. BENN'OR. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No.440,389. Patented N0v.11, 1890.

(No Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet 6.

J. BENNOR. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No 440,389. Patented Nov, 11, 1890.

l- A L 1-1) Model.) l3 Sheets-Sheet 7.

J. BENNOR,

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE. No. 440,389. Patented Nov. 1 1, 1890.

n ess s (No Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet 8.

-J. BENNOR. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

UVVE/V ATTORNEY I WITNESSES:

tj a

(No Model. 'v 13 Sheets-Sheet 9. J. BENNOR.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE. y No. 440,389. 0v. 11,1890'.

(N6 Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet 10. J. BENNOR. STRAIGHTKNITTING-MACHINE.

No. 440,389. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

ATTORNEY (No Model.) 1 13 Sheets-Sheet 11. r J. BEN NOR.

. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE. No. 440,389. Patented Nov; 11, 1890.

w/ IVESSES:

l/VVE/l/ By I ATTORNEY (No Model.) 13 SheetsShee-t 12.

' J. BENNOR. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 440,389. Patented Nov..1 1, 1890.

Jgzii:

WITNESSES: IIV'VE-IAITDIH MAQWQ 1 ATTORNEY l8 fiheets Sheet 13.

BEE STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE,

(No Model.)

Neva 31,1890.

f 11am. J m. PMYNLIKL FQV WW7 listens iirnrns lr nrsnr FFlQF...

JOSEPH BENNOR, OF PHlLADELPl-HA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO POWELL it liRO'lHER, OF SAME PLACE.

STRAiGHT KNBTTSNG hiihCHlNl-i.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,389, dated November 11,1890.

Application filed June 2L 1889. Serial No. 315132; (N model) To an whom it may concern;

Be it known that i, Josnrn Benson, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of *hilndclphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StrnighbKnitting Machines, of which the following is afull, clear, and t tact description, ret'erenee being had to the accoinpnnyii'ig drawings, of which Figure 1, Sheet '1, is a general perspective view of my machine as in actual use, the belt having been thrown from the T'JT i o the loose pulley, and the 1 mi tcrn-chai m prcsented by the dotted lines. Fig. 2, Sheet is a side elevation of the workingpzu'tsof the machine, the take-hp levers and immediate adjuncts not shown. Fig. 1 Shoot 2. is :i plan of the some. Fig. 4, Sheet 4, is an end elevation lookingin the direction of the arrow marked 1, Fig. 3. Fig. 5, tlheetfi, is o.- trnnsverse vertical section, enlarged, as on the lineahr, Fig. Fig. 0, Sheet is an elevation of one set r). of needle-operating coins and immediate connections, the cams being in their up or disengaged position. Fig. 7 is it like elevation, the cams being in their down or engaged po sition and the safety-emu removed. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Fig. l iii elevation of the czinrfrnine, the notched. slide-bar and the spring-controlled locking-pin being shown therein. Fig. ll, Sheet 7, isn view similar to Fig. 7, showing the safetycmn in po sition. Fig. S) is at View showing the cams in the intermediate position. Fig. 9 is an on- U larged view of one end of the safety-cam and the adjacent end oi. the necdle-controlliug bar, the full lines showing their relative positions when theknittingcnms are down and the I dotted lines showing their positions when the cainsnre in the inner-mediate position. Fig. 10, Sheet (5, is a rear elevation of the sliding cairn-plate. Fig. ll is a View of the cam-regulnting bar and its adjusting-screw detached. Fig. 12, Sheet 8, is n. longitudinal section a through the neeillebcd ll, the needle-throwing fingers, screw-shaft, &e., as on the line 7/ y,

Fig. 5. Fig. 13,5heet9, is a broken elevation of the pnttcrnnhnin, the sprocket-wheel, its ratchet, and the roelozirins. Fi 1%, Sheet 10, is a front elevation of the gearing, the clutch devices, and adjuncts. Fig. 15 is a a like elcvntion of the toggle-lever, the adjacent end of the shifter-bar, the drop-rod, and conneclions, the full linesshowing the position of the parts when the machine is in operation and the dotted lines showing their position when the machine is stopped. Fi lt-,Sheet 11., is a side elevation of one end of theyarncarrier-supporting" bar, showing theysrnearriers thereon, the sliding rocking-lever, the com slotted arm for actuating the some, and the lever for controlling said arm, the parts being in their neutral or inactive positionthat is, the rocking-lever disengaged front both carriers. Fig. 17 is it like elevation showing the position of the several [)ZtllS when the rocking lever is engaged with the upper carrier. Fig.18 is alike elevation when the rocking level-"is engaged with the lower carrier. Fig. 19 is it separate view or. the

"sliding rocking lever with theplzitc to which it is pivoted, showing the projecting. pins of the shifting-blocks and their supportingnrms, the arrows indicating their differ" So out positions relative to the control csinsliding bzir. Fig. 28 isa vertical section through one of said blocks and the upper end of its supporting-min. Fig. 24 is 9. View of the fixed end stop or bloek'detachecl. Fig. 25 is a view of the needles used in the machine. Fig. 30, Sheet 13, is a. vertical section through the sinker-frame and the needle-bed, being designed more especially to show the construc-. tion of theneedle-retnining bar-and adjuncts. 0 Fig. 27, Sheet 7, is :1. separate view of the camlever for operating said her, showing, also, a

section taken through thedotted line on the wedge-shaped com, FigjLBS, Sheet- 13, int o I transverse section through one oi? the sinke'r- 9 5 frames, the adjacent needle-bed, the latchopener, and the needle'retaining her, a sinker and needle being shown in place, and 3/ needle about to be nnlatched by the latchopener being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 29 Ice shows a modification of the latch-opener. Fig.

30 is a plan of one end of the sinker-frames,

showing the latch-openers and sinkers. Fig. 31 shows the pawl-arm-actuating cam and a part of-said arm. Fig. 32 is a horizontal section through the clutch-sleeve and its shaft, showing the engaged bifurcated arm and its rock-shaft. Fig. 33 is a perspective view of said clutch-sleeve detached. Fig. 3* is a view of a part of the studded drop-rod and its slotted supporting-box. Fig. 35 is a view of the ends,anumberof the needle-hooks, and the interposed sinkers, showin g their relative positions and the position of the yarn when both sets of needles are simultaneously re- .tracted at the outset of the knitting operation. Fig. 36, Sheet 7, is a view of one end of one of the sinker, latch-opener, and needlehook supporting frames.

This invention has reference more particularly to that class of knitting-machines sometimes termed straight-row machines,wherein are employed two opposite parallel rows or sets of needles which are so relatively actuated by suitable mechanism as to knit automatically a continuous series of whole and complete socks or other hosiery of uniform or variable color.

I To improve the construction of these machines in such manner that their operation will be positive and uniform and better and more perfect results than heretofore thereby secured. is the primary object of the invention.

It consists, first, in the general construction and arrangement of the mechanism for controlling and actuating the reciprocating needle-cams 'at various stages of the work; secondly, in the special construction of said cams, whereby certain hereinaftendescribed results and advantages are secured; thirdly, in novel mechanism for automatically throwingthe needles into and out of action during the operation of knitting the heel and toe parts of the sock; fourthly, in devices for automatically changing the color (or size, if desired) of .the yarn at any prescribed point in the operation; fifthly,indevices for insuring the opening of the latches of the needles sixthly, in a simple means for positively a'rresting the motion of-themachine in the event of the breaking or ending of the yarn; seventhly, in a certain reciprocating device, termed thelatoh-cont-roller, for holding the latches in their open position; eighthly, in a simple means for holding the needles within their grooves; ninthly, and, finally, in the details and minor features of construction of the several parts and in their special arrangements and combinations, all as will be hereinafter fully and clearly described, and be definitely ointed out in the claims.

Referring to the annexed drawings, A represents theframe-work of the machine; B B, the oppositely-inclined needle-beds; C (3', the sets ofneed'les therein contained; 1), the re clprocating needle-operating cams, whose as heretofore.

frames d are connected by the yoke or saddle (l and E the sinkers or loop-holders, whose fingers e project into and play within the centrallongitudinalthroat or slot-A, through which the knitted web descends. The rela tive arrangementof these parts .is the same F represents the main shaft of the machine, by and from which the mechanism is actuated. On one end fof this shaft is a spur-wheel), with which gears a pinion 9', fast on an adjacent 'shaft or stud G. The latter is driven from some'proper source of power by means of a belt II passing around a fixed pulley g on said shaft or stud.

. I is a vertical shaft, which is mounted near the wheel f in boxes or bearingsj', that are borne in arms J, projecting from the end cheek a of the frame-work. On the lower end of this shaft I is a bevel-gear 2'', whose teeth engage with those of a similar gearf on the shaft F, and on the upper end of shaft I is a crank or disk wheel 1", which is connected with the cam-yoke (l by means of a rod or pitman K. In this way the shafts F G communicate their motion to the vertical shaft, and the latter in turn imparts a reciprocating motion to the cams. The construction and operation of these cams is such that in knitting tubular work one set is active while the other set is idle, and vice versa, both sets being'alternately thrown into and out of action by means of mechanism, which will be hereinafter described.

Loosely mounted on the end f of shaft F is a sprocketwvheel L, which carriesa ratchet Z on its outer face. Next this ratchet there is fixed on said shaft a face-cam 1 below which to the end head a of the frame A is pivoted an arm l, which latter is provided with a pivoted stud Z thereon that projects into and rides within the camor eccentric groove 1 On the upper end of this arm isa pawl l, which normally engages with the teethof the ratchet-wheel, as shown. From this construction it will be seen that the shaft F through its cam P will oscillate the arm I and its pawl Z and the pawl in turn will impart a step-by-step movement to the ratchet, and perforce to the sprocket-wheel L. A lower stop-pawl l, which is pivoted at a: on the head a, normally engages the teeth of the ratchet and prevents backward motion thereof. Borne by the sprocket-wheel L is a measuring or pattern chain M, whose peonliarly-formed links m, through intermediate mechanism engaging therewith, determine the various positions of the needles at the different stages of the operation, and the color (or size, if desired) of yarn that is supplied, as will hereinafter appear. Chain M in the present instance is supported upon pulleys M, Fig. l, which are mounted in a suitable .Journaled in the end heads or checks of theframe A, adjacent to the shaft F, are two Moses 7 parallel rock-shafts N and N, upon each of which is supported an upright arm 71 which extends through a slot in the top plate a and carries at its upper or free end a block a In the present instance this block is fitted loosely on one end of a stud 7, which projects from the arm n and is held in place by asst-screw 8, which is adapted to work in the block and bear against said stud. The other end of the latter is screw-threaded and worksin the arm n, so thatzby properly turning the stud it will be moved in or out, and the block thus be set toward or from the arm, as desired. When so set, if the block be not in proper horizontal position it may be readily loosened on the stud '1, moved to and fixed at the proper point .of adjustment by properly turning the setscrew 8. (See Figs. 22 and 23.) The arms 72 are united by a rod n, and are normally held at a prescribed point by means of' a retracting-springw, whose ends are respectively secured to said rod and to the near end head a as seen. The end of one of these rockshafts (N in the present instance) extends out beyond the head a and has'fixed thereon an arm n, which is provided at its free end,

with an enlarged head 12 which successively rides upon the individual links of the patternchain during the intermittent motion thereof. It will be noticed that the blocks-n swing in the paths of two longitudinal slide-bars (1 respectively, which bars extend centrally through the cam-frames and are designed to control the position of the cams D therein contained, and consequently their act-ion upon theneedles. These cams are of the following construction: d indicates the frames in which the cams are supported. Each frame is reciprocated on its needle-bed in the man.- ner before stated, being guided in a channel or way a", formed in the side of the main frame A of the machine, as clearly shown.

01 is a plate which is movable, within certain limits, at right angles to the slide-bard being guided by suitable offsets d in the under side of the frame (2'. On this plate are properly disposed. and secnred the usual nee die-actuating cams D, which in the present instance do not differ materially from those in general use, consisting, essentially, of the lateral spring orgravity controlled wing-cams d and the upper dcpressingcam d, with the addition of thelower needle-controlling cam or bar (1 In. Fig. 9"- the positions of the needle-heels before, during, and after engagement with the GalllS D are represented by the dotted line 2 2, (t -c. When the cams are down or in active position, as shown in this figure, Fig. 7, and right of Fig. 5, they will engage and actuate the needles; but when the cams are up orin idle position they will in their stroke pass above the necdieheels without operating the same-that is to say, the line of the needle-heels wi ll be j ust below that of the lower edge of bar d and the needles therefore rcniainquiescent. left ofFig. 5, and

also Fig. 6.) The ends of this bar d are pointed or beveled on both sides, as seen, in order to deflect the needle-heels upon contact therewith above or below the sa'me. The plate d is provided with inclined slots (i into which project from the slide-bar (7. studs or pins d". Obviously the movement to and fro of the slide-bar will force its projecting studs against the sides of the slots in the cam plate and thereupon raise or lower the latter' and its cams, positively throwing said cams into and out of action with the heels of the needles at each complete reciprocation of the.

bar. During. the process of knitting the foot or leg of the sock the head of the rock-shaft arm n rides upon the medium faces m of the pattern chain links and in this way maintains the steps'n of the swinging blocks a in line with the ends of the respective bars d of the sets of cams. Now it will be apparent that when these cams have traversed the needie-beds the ends of their said bars d will strike againstthe steps a and be pushed back thereby, thus throwing one setof cams into idle needleheds said projecting portions shall appear at the same ends of the camirames, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order that the cams shall alternately be thrown into and out of action at each reciprocation thereof, 1 secure near the end of the frame A, opposite to that where the blocks n -are arranged, but in line with the latter, fixedstops n against which the ends of the bars d strike with the result mentioned.

These stops are adjustable, as required, the

screw-holes 12. therein, through which the screws a pass, being elongated, as seen.

As is well known, in knitting-machines. oi the class to which my invention relates the knitting commences at the top of the toepouch, proceeds downward and upward,knitting the pouch complete, and then forming the foot, the heel, and the leg of the sock in regular order, at the conclusion of which opertion another sock is likewise started and a similar operation repeated, and so on in con: tinuous succession. At the outset of this opcration both sets of needles are thrown upward and the yarn is conducted thereto, the needles seize the yarn and retreat with the same, (see Fig. 35,) and after forming around of stitches one set of cams is thrown out of action and the other set proceeds with the knitting, as will hereinafter appear. In order, therefore, to throw both cams simultane- .is made slightly higher than those preceding. Thus when the head of the arm 91. engages with the face m said arm, as also the arms n Q I needles.

with which the blocks are connected, will be moved laterally, thereupon bringing the oil":- set portions n of the blocks in line with the ends of the respective bars (1?. When these ends strike the offsets, the bars will be pushed inward thereby a distance only suflicient to throw both sets of cams into active positionthat is to say, the cam-plates d" will not be moved so far as to permit the needle-controlling cams d to pass over the heels of the needles. (See Fig. 9".) \Vhen both sets of cams have been thrown into this intermediate position, they will simultaneously act upon the In the first stroke of the cams the two sets of needles will be actuated in concert, their hooks while receding engaging the yarn delivered thereto and drawing it into a zigzag line, as seen in Fig. 35. The yarn is merely caught on the hooks, no stitches whatever having been formed. As the cams reach the end of the first stroke, the leading ends of the slide-bars (1 will abut against thestops n and be pushed inward, thus throwing one set of cams iuto'the down or active position and the other set into. the up or idle position. In the return-stroke of the cams one set of needles will be acted upon, thereby knitting a. straight row of stitches. Meanwhile the chain will be moved a distance of one link, and the face of the following link being of the same height as the medium faces m the blocks n when the head of arm of drops upon said link, will be returned to their former position-that is to say, the steps n will be in line with the ends of the slidebars d Upon the latter striking the steps n the positions ofthe two sets of cams will be reversed-71. e., the idle set will be thrown into action and the other or active set will be thrown out of action, whereupon during the next stroke of the cams a row of stitches will be formed by the opposite set of needles, thus making a complete round of stitches. cams reach the end of this last-mentioned stroke, the leading ends of the slide-bars will strike the fixed stops n, and the positions of the cams will thereupon be reversed-that is, those-which traverse the bed B? will become ,active, while those on the other bed will be idle. The active :set of cams now operates the needles in bed B, knitting to and fro thereon, while the other set remains idle. During every stroke of the active cams a needle at each side ofthe bed is thrown up out of action without dropping the stitch from its hook, so to narr w or contract the portion of the toe-pouch being formed, as will be hereinafter fully explained. That the cams will retain these relative positions for a prescribed As the period I provide the pattern-chain with a series of links with low faces m, which series immediately succeeds the medium-faced linklast referred to. When the head of rides upon these low faces m, its arm n", together with the arms M, will be moved backward, so as to throw the blocks n wholly out of the paths of the slide-bars. Thus the cams will remain in the active and idle positions aforesaid. After a su'fiicient number of needles returned into engagement with, the cams in regular order-that is, one at each side of the bed B during every stroke of the cams, which returning of the needles causes the completion of the pouch; or, in other words, a'gradually-widened portion, is formed, which corresponds with the gradually contracted or narrowed filSii-fOI'lllGdPOIlZlOH, and is connected therewith during each stroke of the cams by the return of the upthrown needles, as will be readily understood by one conversant with the operation of this class of machinery. ,When all the upthrown needles have been retracted and the pouch is thereupon complete, another series of medium-faced links is brought below the head 11 thus throwing the steps a of the swinging blocks into the paths of the bars (1, as before stated, whereupon the cams will be alternately thrown into active and idle position and proceed with the knitting of the tubular-foot portion of the sock. The number of links in this series will deter mine'the length of the foot portion, and following the same is another series of low-faced links, which govern the formation of the heel portion of the sock. When the head of arm n rides upon these low-faced links, all the parts will assume the same positions and operate in the same manner as hereinbefore described with regard to the knitting of the pouch, the needles being thrown into and out of action in like manner. Upon-completion of the heel another series of medium-faced chain-links are brought below the head of arm n, and the mechanism is again thrown When the latter has be cast off the needles, and the sock will fall,

therefrom down through the throat of the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this second reciprocation of the cams, they having again been thrown into.the intermediate position, both sets of needles will thereby be simultaneously actuated, the yarn will bev fed to and caught by the needles, and the foregoing -described operation will be repeated, and in like mannerin continuous succession whole and complete socks will be knit by and cast from the needles. It will he 01 kll Lil

ting-cams are thrown into the iritermediete position above described, when the cams are in this position, less throw will be given thereby to the needles than if both sets of cases were in full active position. In the former case less yarn will be drawn by the needles than in the latter case, and of course the formed by the yarn will be correspondingly tighter or smaller. The dilference in the depths of the offsets n in the block-511 as shown in Figs. 3 and 22, arises from the fact that to throw the up or idle cams into tite -intermediate position it re quires a greater movement of the slide-bar than it does to throw the down or active cams into this position. Therefore the oilsetagainst which strikes the bar of the idle set is of less depth than the other offset.

As simple and efiective' means by which the cams may be securely retained in the three shove-specified positions which they are caused to assume, I provide the under edge of shell bar (I with a corresponding number of sockets d at proper points therein,with which sockets is adapted success 1 to engage astrong spring-controlled pl 4 d, that plays in a lower recess (1 in the eamframe.

in Figs. 6, '7, and 9", the kni'tting'carns are shown in the up, down,-and intermediate positions, respectively, in each instance being locked in position by the pin d engaging with the proper notch in the slide-bar (1 To guard against any-possibility of the heels of the needles passing below the'camoer (i While both sets of cams are in simulteneous act-ion, I provide below ssidbar c slide-plate d Figs. 6, 9, 9", and 9, whichl term a safety-cam? Its ends project npward and are oppositely beveled or inclined, as shown, and it is provided with longitudirial slots therein, through vhich loosely pass the screws d, that connect itto the camfrerne. This plate bears upon the face of the needle oed, and at eheh-stroke of the cams its inclined end is cared by the frictional contact into properposition with respect to the inclined end of the canrbar, so as to close the intervening gap which would otherwise remain. i

The function of the safety-cam will be p more readilyunderstood by reference to Figs.

9, 9, end 9.- If it were stationary, there would of course be a gap between the upprojecting end of the same and the adjacent end oi the bar al when the cams are in the intermediate position. This is clearly represented by'th'e dotted lines in Fig. 9. When in this intermediate position, the: cams must engage the needle-heels and n'otpass idly over the samek Therefore the moving of the tip-projecting end of the safety-ca to and against the leading end of the bar d obvietes all liabilityof the needle-heels dropping eccidcntslly down between the said ends and being passed over by the bar (1- instead of be ing acted upon by the knitting-cams. purpose of the outer heve'ls on the rip-projecting ends of the safety-cam. is to deflect the needles upward should the leadingend of said cam during't-he reciprocation of the knittingcems strike a needle-heel which shall have dropped below the line of the retracted nee die-heels, and the purpose of the innerbcvels p on the said tip-projecting ends is to deflect above the top thereof an y'needle-hcels -which shall havedropped down upon the upper edge of the safety-cam during the passage of the bar (1 over theseincthat is, while the knit 'ting'cems are inactive. These inner bevels also assist the safety-cam to move readily to the position shown in Fig. 9 upon the lower The beveled end of the bar d striking the oil-- posed inner bevel on thesatety-cam when the cam-supporting plate is depressed-4, e'.,when the knitting-cams are thrown tee the idle into the activeposition. I state in this connection that when the bar d7 passes above the heels of the idle needles the latter are there,

by prevented from jnmpingand catchingthe yarn.

That the position of the earns may be reedily changed at will, so as to vary the throw of the needles and thus cease tight orloose' stitches to be produced thereby, I provide the under side of the movable camsupporting plate d with an inclined notch or recess d,

and below said plate, in a space (P I adjustably secure a bar (1, which is provided ate. point thereon, in) line with saidlnotch or recess, with a oorrespondingly-inclined tooth or projection (2 By moving this bar inward the tooth thereon will limit the downward movement of the cam-plate and its cams, and thus of course lessen the throw of the rice dies, causing them to. form comparatively serial. and tight stitches, and, again, by moving the bar backward an opposite effect will be produced. A very convenient. and simple way by which this bar may be quickly ad-- viding one'end of the bar with an upturned slotted lug d", through which passesa setscreW at, working in theend'of the framed'm- As this screwis provided with an inner flange or projection d, it will he obviousthet by properly turning the screwthc bar maybe moved in or out, at pleasure.

When the stitch-regulating her al lead- 'usted nee-hove described the ram oot I. e-

ment of the slide-her ($51 when acting to de press the earn-pl ate (i should becorrespondin gly alters set so as to is sen the downward throw of B will he moved longitudinally outward a rat is to say, it the bar d escam-plate the fixed stop 11 011 the rreedle bed. 13" and the swingingstop n onrtheiibed f.

- project beyond said heads. '35

proper distance, while, on the other hand, if the bar (1 be set so as to permitan increased downward throw of the cam-plate said stops will be moved inward;- These stops are ad" justable, as above mentioned.

In order that certain needles shall be automatically and successively thrown out of and into action, so as to narrow and widen the web during the formation of the toe-pouch and the heel of the sock, I have devised the following novel mechanism: 0 is a shaft which is jourualed in the end heads a a of the frame A. The end 0' of this shaft extends beyond the adjacent head a, and has secured thereto a bevel-gear 0 which ongages with two similar gears 0 0, that are oppositely but loosely mounted on the vertical shaft 1, hereinbefore referred to. On thislatter shaft, between the gears o and 0, there is interposed a vertically-movable sleeve 0, which is secured against independent lateral movement and guided in its vertical. movementby means of a spline o projecting thereinto from the shaft 1. This sleeve or elutch'member, as it may be termed, is provided with projections or teeth oland 0 on its upper and lower ends, respectively, and the opposite faces of the gears are provided with studso", with which said teeth are adapted to engage successively, as and for the purpose hereinafter descrihed. J ournaled in the end heads a 0., adjacent to the rock-shaft N is another similar shaft 0 whose ends The end 0 has fixed thereon an inwardly-extending arm 0 whose forward end is bifurcated, as seen, the limbs 0 thereof being provided with pivotbloeks 0, which register with a circumferential groove 0 in the sleeve o On the opposite end of shaft 0 is secured a depending arm 0", which is similar to the arm n on the adjacent rock-shaft N, being likewise provided with a head 0, which is adapted to ride'upon the'faces 0f the pattern-chain links just aside of the head of. llead 0 is normally held against the chain by means of a strongretracting-spring 0 7, Fig.1, which is secured to the forked arm 0 and to apin o,

that projects from the upper journal-box j of the vertical shaft 1. Fixed on the shaft 0. in line with the sides of the series of needlegrooves 11 are two oppositely-pitched screws 0 and 0 ,and on these screws are mounted correspondingly-threaded nuts or followers 0 The latter are provided withinclined broadfaced arms 0, which extend up to and between .two guide-ribs I), Fig. 5, that are formed on the under side of the top plate a just below the needle-bed B, which bed carries the set of needles 0' that knit the toe and heel of the sock. On the inner face of each of these arms,

immediately below the screw, are pivoted two curved fingers 0 and 0%, which normally cross each other, as shown, in a manner somewhat similar to the legs of a pair of inside calipers being held in this posit-ion in the present instance by means of retractingsprings 0 whose ends are connected to the sides of the fingers and to a screw 0, projecting from the face of the arm. (See Figs. 5 and .12.) The free ends of these fingers extend up to or narly to the lower side of the needle bed, the grooves therein being cut entirely through the bed at a point between the opposite edges of these said ends, as seen. The lower side of this open slotted section of the bed is concave, in order to provide a free path in which the fingers o 0 may swing on their common fulcrum; The upper ends of these fingers are secured against lateral displacement by means of a plate 0 which is screwed or otherwise fixed to the side of the arm 0. The needles C", which are contained within the slotted bed B, differ from those in the other or plain, grooved bed B in so far that their (0') lower ends are elongated and bent downward--that is, in a direction opposite to the heels of the needles. When the needles 0 are in their grooves, these bends project down through the respective open slots. The pivoted fingers are provided with enlargements 0 on their inner edges at points directly op'- posite the axis of the shaft 0. These enlargements project into the paths traversed by radial studs 0, which arev detachably secured by screws 0 to the inner ends of splines 0 adaptedto travel within longitudinal grooves 0 in the screws 0 0 From the above-described construction it will be seen that when the shaft 0 is rotated in one directionto wit, in that of the arrow 2, Figs. 2 and 5the screws 0 0 thereon will move their respective nuts, with their pivoted fingers, toward each other, the studs 0 in their rotation impinging against the enlargements 0 on the fingers-o and throwing upward the free ends of the latter. These ends will bear against the downward bends of the adjacentneedles and carry the same, with the loops thereon, out of action with the cams. T he springs 0 will return said fingers to their first position for a succeeding operation on the next adjacent needles, and so on until the predetermined number of needles-thirteen, for instance-has been thrown up at each end of the row, whereupon the shaft 0 is rotated in the reverse direction,so that the other fingers 0 will be likewise actuated.in order successively to return the needles to their active position. The pitch of the screw-th reads is equal to the distaneebetween thecen ters of the two needles of each pair of needles, and the parts are so timed that when the up-throwing fingers o are in action with the needles the other or do'wn-throwingfingers o will'be moved in the spaces between the two needles,

upon the Stud 0 while at one-half of its rotation striking the enlargements on said downside thereof with parallel guideways the sleeve will be held in a neutralposit on; but when the faces 0 of the following links are brought below said head'by the camactuated pawl-and-ratchet mechanism aforesaid, the spring 0 will force the head 0 down upon the faces 0 and thus d .tw the sleeve 0 11p against the under side of tie gearo, whereupon the tooth 0 on said sleeve in its rotation will engage with the stud on the under side of the upper bevel-gear and impart motion to the latter, and consequently to the shaft 0, turning it in the direction of the arrow marked 2. After shaft 0 has made a suitable number of revolutions in this direction another series of links with raised fries 0 is brought in the same manner as the preceding links into engagement with the head of arm 0, thus forcing out the latter against the stress of the spring 0", which action disengages the sleeve from the gear 0 and engages its lower tooth o with the stud 0 on the lower gear 0 thereby imparting motion to the latter and turning the shaft in the direction indicated by arrow 1. After the function of the shaft in this reverse movement has been performed a series of links with medium faces 0 is brought into engagement with the head of arm 0 and the sleeve is thereby returned to its first or neutral position, the shaft 0 thereupon remaining idle, as willbe readily understood by any skilled mechanic. It is to be remembered that the gears, o and 0 are normally loose on the vertical shaft I. It will be observed that an outwardly-projeoting plate 0 is formed at the top-of each of the arms 0. As the'nut. is movd forward during the rotation of shaft 0, the upper edge 0 of this plate will pass under the bends of the up thrown needles, and thus prevent the latter from prematurely dropping down into action with the cams.

It is desirable that the toe and heel of the sock shall differ in color from the foot and leg portions thereof. This necessitates the use 'oftwo kinds of yarn, which must successivcly be thrown into and out of action with the needles at certain stages of th 0peration. To effect this changing of the yarns. I provide devices of the following description;

P represents a bar, Figs. 2 and 5; which is mounted longitudinally above the center or apex of the machine, being supported by fixed end 'posts p. This bar is furnished on one in which are adapted to travel slide-blocizs gh p respectively; The upper block is provided with a f iiiwardly-inclined .finger p, which is notched jiir recessed at pi'on its under sid and the'loii'er block p is prj vlided with an.oppositely notched and incline ifinger 19 Each of these blocks carries a yarn-conductor 19 whose eye 12" is adapted to move in close proximity to the needle-hooks in the usualmanner.

On the bottom of that side of the yoke d adjacent to the grooved side of the bar P is secured a plate 32 Fig. 5, to which a lever I? is centrally pivoted, as at 99 To prevent voluntary movement of this lever, a screw 10 is passed through a guide-slot 19 therein into the plate p and a sprin'g washer p is interposed between the pivot and guide screws, as seen most clearly in Fig. 19. The inner side of the lever P is provided at suitable points thereon with three projecting p'ins-,to Wit, onep at its leading end, one p at its opposite end, and one 10" near the pin 2?. It will be apparent that the act of moving up or down the leading end of the lever when the yoke d is at the limit of its forward stroke will engage the pin; p" with the recess p? in one of the fingers 19* p and the lever will depart with the connected n-carrier, remain ing in engagement with the latter until the end of the lever is oppositely moved. As a means to engage this lever with one or the other of the yarn-carriers,or wholly to disengage it therefrom, as desired; I pivot'on the end of the bar P a lateral arm 10 whose in-- ner end has aV-shaped opening therein. By properly moving this arm either leg of the V will be broughtinto the path of the pin 11 on the leading end of the lever, which pin will impinge against the opposed inclined edge of thet leg, and, as the case may be, be guided up or down thereby, thus correspondingly actuating the end of the lever and throwing the pin pi into or out of engagement with the yarucarrier fiugers-that is to say, if the pin he engaged with one yarn-carrier it will be disengaged therefrom and be engaged with, the other carrier, or be entirely disengaged from both carriers, according to the position of the lever. I

in order to retain the lever engaged with one or the other of the yarn-carriers, or wholly disengaged therefrom, as occasion may require, 1' provide the face'of the bar P with lateral ribs or projections p whose forward ends are beveled or pointed, as seen. These ribs are above and below the horizontal plane of the pivotal point p of the lever P, so that when the latter is in its neutral position- -e.,

disengaged from both iingers-the lever-pin p will be guided in the channel p betwecn the ribs, and thus the lever be positively held in the neutral position, and when the lever is in engagement with one or the otherof the yarn-carriers said, pin will accordingly be guided above the upper rib or below thelower rib with like etfect. To actuate this leverautomatically, as and under the circumstances stated, I pivot on a stud p Fig. 2, that projects from the end a of the main frame A, whereat the chainavheel is located, a lever 10, whose iowercnd is normally held in contact with the outer side of the chain-links by means of a spring 0 preferably flat, which is so secured to the stud p as to bear against and throw outward the upper arm of the lover.

The top of said arm hasa laterally-projecting pin 32 thereon, which pin enters a cam-slot p near the pivoted end of the bifurcated arm p. The shape of this'cam-slot is such that. 

